Located about 875 km south of the Egyptian capital Cairo, Aswan is set in the serene Nile Valley and it is here that the Nile is said to look more majestic than anywhere else. It also shares its name with one of the oldest and largest dams on the Nile, the Aswan Dam.
Considered an all-time favourite winter destination, this small city is sure to surprise visitors with the number of monuments and sites that it has to offer. For tourists intending to visit the city, here are top 5 attractions that one should definitely visit on a trip to Aswan, that is known as Egypt's sunniest southern city.
Temple of Philae Though Egypt and Aswan are adorned with a number of beautiful temples, there is perhaps none that can match the striking beauty of the country's iconic temple dedicated to the Egyptian mother goddess Isis, the temple of Philae.
Located on the scenic Aglika Island, just south of the old Aswan Dam, the temple of Philae is one of the country's most spectacular and well preserved sanctuaries. Do note that one will have to take a motorboat in order to get to the island.
On entering the island, visitors are greeted by a grand 18 metre high gateway with towering pylons on each side, before being led to the main temple area in the temple of Isis.
With towering walls engraved with carved pictures, the walls of Philae depict scenes from Egyptian mythology, of which one of the most famous is the story of how Goddess Isis brings her husband, the principal Egyptian God Osiris who was murdered and dismembered by his brother Seth, back to life and then gives birth to their son, Horus.
Apart from the temple of the main deity Isis, surrounding the main building of Philae are several smaller temples, kiosk, and remnants from the Byzantine era during the rule of Eastern Roman Empire.
This story is from the September - October 2022 edition of India Outbound.
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This story is from the September - October 2022 edition of India Outbound.
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